Choosing God’s Way Sermon Series I

Introduction

So in starting the new year, I think it’s important that we start it off right. We should start off our year making the choice to live how God is calling us to and leave behind anything else that isn’t that. Now while we should always be choosing to do that what is a better time to talk about that then the new year. So for the month of January we will be looking at people in the Bible who chose to live life the way God told them too.

Acts 4: 13-31 13Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16saying, “What are we to do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any longer to any person in this name.” 18And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; 20for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22for the man on whom this miracle of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.23When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

I. 13

You see in the beginning of this passage starting with verse 13, we see the perspective of the Jewish leaders also known as the Sanhedrin. Now, coming across Peter and John, they couldn’t help but recognize their confidence and boldness. Right he we are seeing results from spending 3 years with Jesus. These guys weren’t holding back. I mean these guys were proclaiming Jesus and had been since they recieved the Great commission to go out and make disciples. You see in that last meeting with Jesus in giving them command to go out, they took it seriously. This wasn’t optional. there was good news that needed to be told to the world and they were the designated messengers. That was their mission and they were following through in that. We need to be taking that Great Commission as seriously as the disciples were. People have died horrific deaths for the gospel and yet many people who claim Christianity refuse to spread Jesus. They take his commandment as a suggestion and act as if they were never commission to make disciples to begin with. You see these Jewish leaders are like hold on now. Noticing how bold both Peter and John were being in proclaiming, they knew that both Peter and John were not educated or were trained men. I Imagine a conversation going on between the council being like, “Wait a minute, you’re telling me that these guys are the ones causing us trouble? These uneducated fisherman are doing this?” Now this isn’t too say that hadn’t studied the Torah and things of that nature when they were young, they did, but they had no formal rabbinical training. They were amazed that Peter and John were capable of this. Because of this they couldn’t help but recognize that they had been with Jesus.

These guys without the traditional training, without the traditional education, had to have something. And that something was Jesus. They weren’t just any men. They were men who had been with Jesus. they were fishers of men. You see these men here in the Jewish Council had extensive training under a Rabbi and an extremely high amount of education. This guys had a lot of knowledge. But at the end of the day none of that mattered. There was one big difference between the Sanhedrin and Peter and John, and that was that they hadn’t been with Jesus. And people will be able to see whether you have been with Jesus or not. The Jewish council could tell with Peter and John. You can have all the knowledge about the Bible too. You can grow up in church, know all the answers to Sunday school questions, you can even study the Bible back to front, but if you’ve never been with Jesus, then it is nothing. There will always be something missing and you won’t be able to have a spiritual impact on others if you have never had a spiritual relationship.

II. 4-18

You see what Peter and John were doing, was irrefutable. No matter how much they hated it, they could not deny them. For there was a person standing with them who was lame. He was healed. So the council came together to try to figure out how to respond to what was going on. “I mean what do we do about this Peter and John guy. They’re spreading the gospel and doing miraculous signs in the name of Jesus. People are going to stop listening to us. How do we fix this?” Because they couldn’t deny them being valid. A literal walking miracle was standing with Peter and John, but if they did nothing, if they didn’t try to figure out a way to stop them, then they would just keep on preaching among the people, and the Jewish council would not have that. They despised the idea of it. So they formulate a plan. They decide that they should threaten them to stop. They had the super bright idea of being like well let’s just tell them that they can’t do that anymore, that’ll stop them. But they did exactly that calling Peter and John into the council, instructing them that they were not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

But why are these Sanhedrin so bent on stopping what Peter and John are doing? They’ve even healed someone. Why would anyone have a problem like that? well the answer to that is simple, Power, They wanted to keep the religious authority that they had. They didn’t care about Jesus. They didn’t care what the truth was or how they needed to repent and believe the gospel. They were so focused on having their own authority that they were completely missing it. See today there are many people who still behave the exact same way. There is nothing new under the sun as Solomon says. Some people are fine with religion, they’re fine with sprinkling a little God into your life. Even going to church. But the moment that Jesus starts to take away their power, nuh uh, I’m not letting that happen. There are even self-proclaimed pastors out there that will use the name of Jesus, not because He is God and the truth, but to gain authority. In a quest for power you will find corruption. These religious authorities that Peter and John are up against were corrupted by their own desire for power and the world todays till faces that. We need to take this as a warning. The name of Jesus should never be attempted to be shut down in that includes in the pursuit of religious power. If you feel that, if you feel that whisper in your ear that you can use God for your own gain, you need to stop and check where your heart is at immediately. There is a problem there and that needs to be checked out.

III. 19-23

These Sanhedrin folks thought that they could shut down this whole gospel proclamation now. That they could put an end to Peter and John’s ministry, while still being able to keep their power. But as we are about to see, that was not the case. Peter and John has a response for them and it was not the one they wanted to hear. Not one bit. After They had told them that they needed to stop doing those things in the name of Jesus They answered this, look at verse 19 with me. “But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment.” Now that is an answer right there. They were talking to leaders in Jerusalem and said that. Peter knew who was with them. I mean when the Lord is for you who can be against you? Who stand a chance? Whether it is right in God’s eyes to listen to you or Him, make your own judgement. I mean imagine the shock that these guys probably had on their faces. Peter and John boldly stood up for what they believed. It was plan and simple. The earthly way of these members of the Jewish council, or God’s way, and Peter and John chose God’s way.

Now this is not to take out of this passage that we can disobey the government however we please. are are to “submit to the governing authorities” as we are told in Romans 13:1 and “to every human authority” in 1 Peter 2:13. As Christians we are to stand at the top in behavior. We are to be good citizens and to follow the laws. That is part of what we are to do as Christians. But, If those commandments and or laws go contrary to God, then we are not held to that anymore. In fact in that exception we are to boldly refuse and stand up for our one true God. No matter if it’s a governor, president or king, we should listen to the king of kings who is over all of them.

Now look at verse 20 with me at the second half of their response, “For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Peter and John could not keep themselves back. They had come into contact with the living God and they knew the truth about the gift of eternal life and had to tell people. They couldn’t keep it to themselves. Jesus gave them the Great Commission to make disciples, spreading the gospel and they were doing just that. They were keeping to it. Even though they were facing that persecution by the Jewish Council the stood strong in the Lord.

Do you do that? Do you get excited at an opportunity to talk about Jesus or do you keep in in a box only letting him out at church acting like he is your biggest kept secret. Peter and John despite facing persecution in their day, the kept on spreading the Gospel, proclaiming the truth that is Jesus. How can Christians claim to be Christians but then sit on their butts the whole time wondering why it doesn’t feel like there are many good Christians out their. Well they’re part of the problem right their. At school, at work, at home, with friends, with family, everywhere you are and go is your own personal mission field. You are where you are in life right now because God put you there and just like Peter and John recieved the Great Commission from Jesus, well guess what, you did too! We live in a place right now where we can freely spread the gospel and we live in an age of technology where it is easier than ever to do so. So what is stopping you? Is it judgement? are you worried you’re going to be judged if you start telling people about Jesus? Well then let me ask you this. Are you going to listen to simple people and do what they try to get you to do, or are you going to do what God told you to. Peter and John made their choice. They knew it was infinitely better to go with God’s plan than anyone in the Sanhedrin. You probably will be judged. If you haven’t been already for your beliefs, then you are going to be. The world hated Jesus so it’s going to hate you. But let me tell you right now. Stand bold. Stand proud. Stand for Jesus not giving in to peer pressure or fear of judgement. Because we serve something higher, more powerful, and greater, than anything that is on this rock we call home. So stop living the way sinful and judgemental people are telling you to live, and make a change choosing God’s way.

Conclusion

There was no doubt that Peter and John had been with Jesus. It was easy for them to tell that they were his disciples. But I ask you, how easy is it to tell that you follow Jesus? Do people have to really dig deep to find anything Jesus about you, or does it radiate off of you? He has commanded us to go out and spread the gospel and it should be evident that we have been with Jesus. What are you waiting for? Start choosing to live God’s way. Let’s pray.